The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Abuse of Older Adults: Risks, Prevalence, and Protective Strategies

• Date: 01 July 2023

Bifocal July - August 2023 Vol. 44, No. 6

113

The Impact of COVID-19

Pandemic on the Abuse

of Older Adults:

Risks, Prevalence, and

Protective Strategies

By Aiden Fel, Ossining High School

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a signicant

impact on the abuse and neglect of older adults

in the United States, exacerbating existing risk

factors and introducing new challenges. Numerous

studies have examined the prevalence of abuse on

older persons during the pandemic and the role of

social isolation, nancial strain, caregiver burden,

and ageism in shaping this issue. They also highlight

interventions to alleviate loneliness and social

isolation among older adults and the need for policy

action to ensure equitable healthcare, employment

rights, and education about ageism.

The abuse and neglect of older adults is a signicant

issue in the United States, with estimates suggesting

that 500,000 incidents occur annually, with substantial

consequences to health and well-being. Caregiver

characteristics, including nancial strain, substance

use, social isolation, and caregiving burden, are known

factors that increase the risk of abuse. During the

COVID-19 pandemic, these factors likely worsened

due to the fear of infection, social distancing, job loss,

and reduced services for older adults.

A 2021 study by Makaroun, et al. found that

caregivers of older adults experienced increased stress,

alcohol use, social isolation, and negative health

impacts since the pandemic began. Caregivers, who

may have additional job responsibilities, were more

likely to face nancial strain due to the pandemic.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that the

COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the risk of abuse,

neglect, and exploitation for older adults due

to factors such as social isolation, increased

caregiver burden, and nancial instability.1

Likewise, a 2022 study by Weissberger, et al.

analyzed calls made to the National Center on

Elder Abuse (NCEA) resource line and found

that nancial abuse was the most frequently

reported type of abuse both before and during

the pandemic, with family members being

the most common alleged abusers in both

timeframes. However, during the pandemic,

there were higher frequencies of physical and

emotional abuse calls.2

Enhanced awareness of elder abuse risk factors among

healthcare organizations and providers is crucial

for identifying those most at risk and implementing

protective measures. While anyone can be at risk

for elder abuse and neglect, research indicates that

specic populations, both pre- and post-pandemic, are

more vulnerable: Victims are often non-white women

with lower socioeconomic status who are struggling

with cognitive impairments and are facing diculties

in daily activities. Perpetrators of abuse typically have

risk factors such as substance abuse, mental illness,

and criminal history. Research further suggests that

caregivers who are struggling with substance abuse

are more likely to commit physical and emotional

abuse, while the caregiver burden is a factor more

associated with neglect. 5 Further research, focusing on

elder abuse characteristics in larger and more diverse